Lupita Nyong’o Graces the Cover of Vogue, Looks Like a Queen

After garnering acclaim for her Oscar-winning role in 12 Years A Slave and being cast in a Star Wars film, there’s no denying that the 31-year-old actress is here to stay. Gaining that much star-power in such a short amount of time, it would only make sense for Nyong’o to get her very own Vogue cover, right?

For the July issue of the magazine, Nyong’o stuns in a figure-hugging Prada dress which features shades of purple, red and black.

But if the cover isn’t already amazing enough, the magazine features more beautiful photos of the actress in Marrakech, Morocco.

SOURCE: MIKAEL JANSSON for VOGUE

SOURCE: MIKAEL JANSSON for VOGUE

SOURCE: MIKAEL JANSSON for VOGUE

But gorgeous photos aside, Nyong’o also spoke to Vogue about her whirlwind of a year from her role in 12 Years A Slave to her Oscars acceptance speech.

“I was really nervous about seeing myself in 12 Years a Slave because it had been such a profound experience in all ways,” Nyong’o said. “I remember it being one of the most joyful times in my life — and also one of the most sorrowful. I didn’t want my experience to be a vain one. But I will say that when I watched it, my heartstrings were pulled so tight for [the main character] Solomon that I couldn’t go into the ego trip. I cried — I mean, I was inconsolable. I wept for an hour after the movie.”

And the Oscars? What did she try NOT to do when she accepted her golden statue?

“Don’t fall on those stairs,” she said. “It’s not cute if you follow Jennifer Lawrence—it’s not cute if you’re the second one!”

Ah! It’s good that she knows that one fall is really enough!

Samantha Lui is a writer living in Toronto. When she isn't writing, shooting videos or interviewing people, she can be found alone at the movie theater. You can follow her on Twitter (@samanthalui_) or find out more on her site samanthalui.ca.